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Draft:Marcus Blaze

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Marcus Blaze
Personal information
Full nameMarcus Glenn Blaze
NationalityAmerican
Born2006
Clinton, Michigan, U.S.
Home townPerrysburg, Ohio, U.S.
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
ClubPerrysburg Wrestling Club
Coached byScott Burnett
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
U20 World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Pontevedra 61 kg
U17 World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Istanbul 55 kg

Marcus Glenn Blaze (born 2006) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he is a US National Team Member, and was a U20 World medalist in 2024 and the U17 World champion in 2023.[2]

Career

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High school

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Originally from Michigan, Blaze started wrestling at an early age alongside his brother Joseph, before moving to Perrysburg, Ohio.[3] A three-time OHSAA state champion out of Perrysburg High School, Blaze is one of the top-ranked high school wrestlers in his weight class.[4] In the U17 freestyle age-group, Blaze claimed a US National championship before a World championship at 55 kilograms in 2023.[5]

2024

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Making his senior level debut, Blaze competed at the US Olympic Team Trials at 57 kilograms in April 2024, as a high school junior.[6] After a first-round loss to two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano, he came back to defeat NCAA champion Nico Megaludis and U20 World finalist Luke Lilledahl before receiving a forfeit to make the third-place match, where he defeated U17 World finalist Jax Forrest to make the US National team.[7]

Back to the age-group, now in his first year of U20, Blaze made the US World Team up at 61 kilograms in August, and earned a bronze medal from the U20 World Championships in September.[8][9]

A week after his bronze-medal performance, Blaze went back to the senior level to compete at the US World Team Trials. Storming to the finals, he took out 2018 NCAA champion Seth Gross, 2016 NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett and 2021 World silver medalist Daton Fix to make the best-of-three.[10] In the finals, he was defeated back-to-back by reigning World champion Vito Arujau, earning second.[11]

Freestyle record

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Senior Freestyle Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location
2024 US World Team Trials 2nd place, silver medalist(s) at 61 kg
Loss 7–3 United States Vito Arujau 1–3 September 14–15, 2024 2024 US World Team Trials

United States Omaha, Nebraska

Loss 7–2 United States Vito Arujau 1–2
Win 7–1 United States Daton Fix 3–2
Win 6–1 United States Nahshon Garrett 5–0
Win 5–1 United States Seth Gross 7–5
Win 4–1 United States Kyle Burwick 6–2
2024 US Olympic Team Trials 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) at 57 kg
Win 3–1 United States Jax Forrest 8–1 April 19–20, 2024 2024 US Olympic Team Trials

United States State College, Pennsylvania

Win United States Daton Fix FF
Win 2–1 United States Luke Lilledahl 5–1
Win 1–1 United States Nico Megaludis 2–2
Loss 0–1 United States Nick Suriano 2–4

References

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  1. ^ "Despite team's bus being showered with bullets, Greeley Central's Andrew Alirez unflappable, winning Pan Am wrestling title in Brazil". Greeley Tribune. 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  2. ^ "Forrest, Joseph highlight men's freestyle champions at Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier". www.themat.com. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  3. ^ Writer, Staff. "Local sports: Carlson cheer ready to defend state title". Monroe News. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  4. ^ Buckheit, Billy (2024-02-23). "National top 25 high school wrestling rankings for every weight class (2/23/2024)". Sports Illustrated High School News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  5. ^ Reports, Staff (2023-08-06). "Perrysburg's Blaze wins world championship in Istanbul". Sent-trib. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  6. ^ "Perrysburg junior wrestler Marcus Blaze set to compete in Olympic Trials". The Blade. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  7. ^ "Blaze makes name for himself with 3rd-place finish at Olympic wrestling trials". The Blade. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  8. ^ "Lilledahl, Blaze lead experienced men's freestyle team at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  9. ^ "Lockett, Barr, Kueter earn silver, Blaze gets bronze, U.S. wins men's freestyle team title at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  10. ^ "Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Results". Cornell University Athletics. 2024-09-15. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  11. ^ "Burroughs, Taylor, Arujau, Green make U.S. Senior World Team in men's freestyle". www.themat.com. 2024-09-15. Retrieved 2024-10-01.